Frequently Asked Questions and Important Information
Who is my advisor?
For freshmen, their advisor will be the professor who teaches their INST150 course. Transfer students will have a faculty advisor within their intended major. Advisors will be assigned at the start of the semester. Until then, your Admissions Counselor and the Assistant Registrar, Karen Thompson, can help answer any questions you have.
How will I get a bill?
When you register, a bill will be generated for your first semester. It is important to register early so you have time to make payment arrangements. Your bill will be available to view and pay online through MyEastern (https://my.eastern.edu/ics). There are no paper bills.
**Please Note: If you register more than 30 days before the first date of the academic session, your bill will be available to view on MyEastern. If you register less than 30 days before the first date of the academic session, contact your Admissions Counselor.
Are there any additional course fees?
Some courses have fees to cover materials, such as INST150 (Introduction to Faith, Reason, and Justice), science laboratories, and private music and voice lessons. Your bill will include these fees when you register for these courses. Refer to your course catalog for a list of student fees.
How will I receive online access?
Before the semester starts, you will receive information regarding your username and password. This gives you free email (yourusername@eastern.edu) and access to your academic records, financial records, and on-line registration for the next semester using MyEastern (https://my.eastern.edu/ics).
How do I declare a major?
All new students are encouraged to explore majors in the first two years. Until you formally declare a major, you major will be "Exploratory Studies." You must declare you major by the end of your sophomore year, though many departments prefer an earlier declaration. A listing of all available majors can be found in the course catalog. To formally declare your major, you must fill out a major card and have it signed by the department chair. Major cards are in the Registrar's Office.
How many credits is the typical course load?
The normal academic load for undergraduate students is 15 semester hours of credit each semester. Less than 12 semester hours is considered part-time status and billed on a per-credit hour basis. Most First-Year students will be scheduled for 12 to 16 credits for their first semester.
How can I change my schedule (Adding/Dropping Courses)
If you and your advisor decide that you need to change your class schedule after you arrive, you need to complete an Add/Drop form and submit it to the Registrar's Office. The Add/Drop period ends one week after the semester begins. This form is available in the Registrar's Office or it can be printed from the Registrar's Web Page: Add/Drop Form
If I miss the add/drop deadline, can I withdraw from a course?
You may withdraw from a course without academic penalty from the 2nd week to the 10th week of the semester. This form is available in the Registrar's Office or it can be printed from the Registrar's Web Page: Withdrawal Form
How can I find out my final grades?
At the end of each semester, the faculty will file grades with the Registrar's Office. Grades are accessed online through MyEastern, unless students formally request them with a grade report request form and provide a correct mailing address.
Is there a language Requirement?
All students who pursue a major leading to a B.A. or B.S.W. degree must take two semesters of a foreign language (including American Sign Language) instruction at some point during their time at Eastern. Students will be exempt from the language requirement if they:
- Obtain a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Language exam
- Obtain a score of at least 50 on the French, German, or Spanish CLEP exams
- Successfully complete one semester in the study aboard program that includes at least once three-credit foreign language course
For Spanish and French, information on the language placement test can be found here: Language Placement
